Original Sparrowhawk

[blackbird]

Just checking to see if anyone knows where the original is?


Thanks,

[lanichol]

I always liked this gyro and especially the struts.

Maxie Wild's "Easter Egg" previously owned by Gary Buster.

Not sure where it went.

[garybuster]

What a great ship is was (still is!!) ....

It was sold to a gentleman in California... I believe that he in turn apparently sold it to a gentleman in Arizona(?????) Haven't seen it flying since I sold it!!

After Larry Neal and I modified the ship, it was absolutely the most stable ship I have ever been in!!! What a dream to fly as well!! *IF* I were to build another, I'd probably go back to the Mazda rotary for the power available... the Subaru was too anemic for the performance I needed *read as: my lard arse along with someone else's lard arse!* The Easter Egg definitely needed to have more testosterone in the prop, but it really did amazingly well with the 2.2 liter Subie!!

Currently I'm flying a Tri-Pacer, but I'm getting the itch to build another fling-wing... I'll probably find a way to get Ron to allow a rotary on a LW-5 so I could attend the shows and take the lard arse people for introductory rides.

Yep, the Easter Egg was/ is a fabulously designed vehicle for both safety as well as tree top level screaming!

Gary Buster
East Texas

[Timchick]

Is that the only RAF that Maxie modified? I really like his single-place Mad Max gyros. How come more people aren't using the Mazda engines?

[RayPierce]

Is that the only RAF that Maxie modified? I really like his single-place Mad Max gyros. How come more people aren't using the Mazda engines?

I don't believe that is a modified RAF.
There are no RAF parts on it.
I believe it is a MAD MAX 1.

There may be some MAD MAX 1 copied parts on a RAF.
My opinion only...

[Timchick]

Isn't the cabin an early RAF cabin? I know the rest of the gyro is not an RAF, but I thought the cabin was.

I guess I should've asked, Is that the only enclosed gyro Maxie built?

[GyroRon]

That is a RAF cabin.... a old one, good eye Tim.

Maxie made this thing years ago, and it is funny that a self taught gyro guy came up with something like 10 years ago that looks strikingly like what the Sparrowhawk of today looks like.

Of course, to get a RAF cabin, mated to a tall tail, and with centerline thrust, no matter how you do it, chances are it would look like a Sparrowhawk.

It is a shame Maxie is no longer a part of the gyro community. I heard he is into custom Harely Davidson Choppers now....

[Aussie_Paul]

Was it Maxie that won a RAF cabin during a Flyin or Bensen days???

Aussie Paul. :)

[Gyrobound]

I noticed even then Maxie placed the exhaust past the blades for noise. Wonder why AAI didn’t take this concept? I know Stan said it helped a lot with the noise abatement on his SH when he bought the new exhaust.

Scott

[MikeBoyette]

Was it Maxie that won a RAF cabin during a Flyin or Bensen days???

Aussie Paul. :)

Paul,
You are thinking of the one given away at Mentone a few years back. It was a RAF 1000 single place body. Dick and Carol DeGraw won it. Dick built her a gyro with it however, the name of it escapes me at the moment.

[TomCarlisle]

Mike: I think its D'Bird.

[garybuster]

I still believe the Sparrowhawk can be a safer flyer than its current configuration. Notice that I had the additional horizontal on the keel level (that also had vertical winglets!). This addition was made after some initial flight tests without... and the addition was definately a major stability friend. Even WITH the additional horizontal surface, the ship was MORE than agile and controllable in all flight configurations. Not too many people were/ are able to keep up with me flying around the patch!! I still enjoy flying the treelines... and the additional horizontal didn't take away my agility!!

My 2 cents worth on the horizontal discussion!

Gary Buster
East Texas

[Rotornut]

Gary, Nice to see you posting. Hope you and the Family are doing Good.
Take Care MJ :)

[garybuster]

HEY MJ!!! sorry for the off topic, but it's great to come out of my mental fog... divorce will do that to you!! The kids are doin great, livin with me! Aaron is a HS senior, and Ariana is a HS sophomore... she's 16 going on 25!!

I'm close to affording another build... I'll probably create a "taxi" for the fly-ins... something to take the 400 pounders up for a joy ride without a problem! But it'll only be for introductory flights, I'm not ready to make a ship for training in (yet!). Lots of configuration ideas are swimming around!! IF you know of anyone trying to dump an RAF or Sparrowhawk, send them my way! I might be able to take their ship and modify it "my way"!! I'm also considering knocking on Ron H's door to find a way to put a 200 hp rotary on the front end of a little wing!

I'm looking forward to rejoining "the family" of rotorheads!! Hope you and your family are doing super deluxe!!

ok... now we can get back on topic!! :focus:

Gary Buster
East Texas

[Rando]

...it is funny that a self taught gyro guy...I believe that the late Bill Parsons provided Maxie with gyro instruction.

[lanichol]

Lots of configuration ideas are swimming around!! IF you know of anyone trying to dump an RAF or Sparrowhawk, send them my way! I might be able to take their ship and modify it "my way"!!
Gary Buster
East Texas

Just a Bump.

Gary,

I am curious what you would do with a RAF or Sparrowhawk?

[Steve McGowan]

You would be more comfortable in a SH 3 Gary.. that is IF you could get a cabin complete.

You can almost put an original RAF Mod (such as the one you and Maxie had) inside the SH3 cabin.

Yall take care.... I'm at Wauchulla and goin FLYiN ,, In Black of course..:)

[garybuster]

I've got a Renesis engine in mind that would become my basic trainer... yeah, I'm getting into the LSA training mode.

I'd want to put some 30/31' blades on it so the lift co-efficient would be appropriate... Actually, I'd enjoy getting the easter egg back and putting the renesis on it!! DANG!!! That was a SWEET machine!!! It just needed more umph in the engine!!

right now Bonnie and I are moving into the hangarminium at the airpark. You can cut and paste onto the facebook page for pics!! I think this link will work: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2012862&id=1144141008&l=0078d96c55

Fly safe! Love you like a brother!!

Gary

[garybuster]

oh yeah... I found the guy who owns the current easter egg... he's around Hondo Texas... and he's changed the paint scheme up... but apparently he's doing the right thing for training to fly the bird!!!

I wish him well with his flights!!

Gary Buster
tyler texas

[Mike484]

Nice job on your hangarminium.

[animal]

Gary, that is nice, I have always wanted a hanger home my self. my dream is of of the big arch style hangers 25' tall x 50' x 50' and build a liveing area up stairs the size of the hanger or maybe just U shaped and have the center cut out with windows all around where you could see the hanger area below from all the rooms above.

who knows maybe someday.
In the mean time I can drool over ones like yours and Joe's

[garybuster]

thanks for the kuddos guys!!! obviously, this is a dream come true for me!! I've finally gotten my mind out of the fog after the divorce...and my priorities straight(er)!!! Now that the kiddos are becoming empty nesters, I can begin to focus on being a little vain for a bit!!! I'll begin to get the training ship online in a few months... but first I need to feel really good about the parameters of the vehicle!!

Gary Buster
tyler texas

[gyrodrifter]

Gary,

Sorry for busting in on short notice being a stranger and all, I like that machine.

I am not too knowledgable on anything much to do with gyros, but I m gradually getting the drift.
Then I come across this good looker which is apparently an older one and not a production one as shown.

You fellers talk about it as a good performer and it had a Soob on it..good enough for me, I'm sold.

I find myself kicking around the forum and learning things here and there, but can't get my mind wrapped around a suitable machine as of yet.
The Soob2.2 is what I'm building as I have it on the go already, it just needs THAT machine under it!

I would like to ask if you know if there are any pics or drawings available for the original.
I believe I read "Sparrowhawk" so I will definitely check that out. the RAF cab can be simulated if not available anymore, but the marriage between the two was brilliant. What a looker.

Seing those pics was like walking into the telephone pole looking at the good looking girl! That's saying a mouth full coming from me.

Do you or anyone you know have any info on that machine either before or after the mods? Pics, drawings anything?

I would sure appreciate a comeback,

Thanks, take care,
John.

[garybuster]

Hey John...

well..obviously I have a ton of pics since I rebuilt the silly thing... larry neal helped me bunches, but is now completely focused on his Butterfly Gyro business!! The original was developed by Maxie Wildes in Savannah GA.... he's not into gyroplanes anymore...just Harleys!!!

The ship was redesigned on a clean sheet of paper with all of the info we learned from our multiple years of flying... that being said... the subaru 2.2 was anemic and not able to put out the HP needed to fly the ship fully loaded. It had a max static thrust of 590 lbs... less than the .5 ratio to weight needed to really enjoy flying the ship... on the other hand, the mazda 12a bridgeported had 219hp at 7500 rpm with a 2.85:1 ratio... putting out 800+lbs. thrust.... and demonstrating noticeable stalling while stationary during the test. The easter egg had a centerline thrust, balanced specifically for my 300+ and another 300+ rider on board. I added an additional HS at the bottom keel and wouldn't have had it any other way. (VERY stable!) I flew the 30' RAF blades and had the same complaints as others as to the inability to get them completely balanced.

send an email to garybuster@hotmail.com so I can reply to you with some pics.

btw... IF you are going to use the 2.2.... expect about 550-570lbs thrust maximum... so your ship all up weight needs to be no more than 1100-1140lbs. MAX!!!